Sardar Iqbal Singh, son of Sardani Kartar Kaur and Sardar Inder Singh, was born in Sialkot, West Punjab in 1936. He was the 2nd youngest of six siblings, five brothers, and a sister. His family left their ancestral home and immigrated to New Delhi during the 1947 Partition.
Following a family tradition spanning many generations, Iqbal joined the Indian Armed Forces, where he had a successful career in the Indian Army, including leading the Garhwal Rifles infantry during the Pakistan conflict. In 1968, he successfully completed the assignment to secure the compound in Dharamsala for the Dalai Lama who had been exiled from his native Tibet. Later in 1976, Iqbal was awarded the Military Attache post to the Indian Embassy in Australia. While serving in this role, he and his wife Darshan, survived a now-infamous brutal attack by a member of an extremist political organization.
In addition to serving in the Indian Army, Iqbal was a gifted student and a constant learner. He earned dual MA and MS degrees from Mysore University in 1980. In 1982, he took a bold decision to immigrate with his family to the US and enrolled in the Ph.D. program in Political Science at the University of Chicago. After completing his Ph.D., Iqbal moved to North Carolina in 1988, which became his and Darshan’s home for more than 30 years. He taught Political Science and International Relations at Duke University, North Carolina State University, and the National War College in Washington, D.C. A few years later, he went to school again and completed his law degree at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill,1997.
Along with his professional and educational achievements, Iqbal was also known to be a gifted singer, especially for his rendition of the classic Punjabi poem, Heer-Ranja. He was also very passionate about the game of chess, playing endless hours with friends and family. He stayed physically fit his entire life, thoroughly enjoying running, especially 26.2-mile marathons, of which he ran many from his early Army days to his last one in Washington DC.
Iqbal traveled far and wide but remained committed to his extended family in India. He helped and supported many family members who emigrated to the US. He especially enjoyed talking to and mentoring the young generation. He was also known for playing pranks and making jokes!
Iqbal’s family -his wife Darshan Kaur, brother Harcharan Singh, sister Prakash, sons Hartaj Singh, Zorawar Singh, daughter Sangeeta Kaur, granddaughters Jasmehr Kaur, and Simar Kaur thank you for your love and support and for sharing in a celebration of his life.
Sardar Iqbal Singh will be missed dearly by many people far and wide, for his intellect, his warmth, his humor, and above all, his commitment to Waheguru ji.
Arrangements by Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's Street, Raleigh.
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